All rights belong to Rick Riordan

Chapter 87

We Need To Talk

(Percy)

'I hate you, I hate them, you know what fuck it I hate everyone equally.' Perseus complained loudly causing me to continue ignoring him as I gazed up into the cloudy sky from my position lying on the roof. His current mood being the reason I was up here alone and not downstairs with Diana.

'I want my weapons back!' He complained like a spoilt child who had had his favourite toys taken away for misbehaving. Which was much closer to the truth than I would have liked, after all I was the one who gave them away.

'We have been over this, not happening BAE .'

'Then I will take them back!'

'And do what drop them on the floor like you did earlier? They are my weapons not yours and therefore it is my decision on who can use them, a very short exclusive list, which you are in no danger of finding yourself back on anytime soon, especially after what you did. So quit bitching and let me enjoy the quiet.' I told him coldly, neither I nor the girls wanted to deal with this immature idiot but unfortunately I had little choice in the matter.

'I don't even see what the problem is, not my fault none of you can take a joke.'

'That is it you egocentric sociopathic asshole, none of this is a joke! I do not see anyone laughing about what you did. You lost any and all privileges the moment you tried to kill Artemis. So do me and everyone else a favour and SHUT THE FUCK UP!'

'... I hate you.' This was the childish behaviour I had to deal with. How come I got lumbered with this idiot?

(Diana)

'Do you think he has calmed down yet?' I mused internally whilst subconsciously watching the swirling vortex on the watch face attached to my right wrist.

'I don't care whether he has calmed down because I sure as hell haven't.' Artemis replied bitterly.

'Everyone just needs a bit of time.' I tried to say reassuring despite the bad pun.

'Easy for you to say I nearly ran out of it, for the moment he can sit there and suffer. I don't care that Percy has to suffer it as well; he is the only reason I don't go up there now and stab him with his own damned sword. See how he likes looking down it from the wrong end for once.' She spat venomously and I could see where she was coming from, after all she had got the short end of the straw at the time and it could have just as easily been me in her place.

'It will be alright in the end.' I said more to myself than my counterpart. Noting the intermingling gold and silver on the watch face that seemed currently like some sort of cruel joke. Just a few hours ago everyone had been happy and joking and now the four of us were at each other's throats. Well mostly three against one but in a relationship as complicated as ours it may as well have been.

'Just shut up and be quiet I would rather not think about it.'

(Zoe)

You had to be a idiot to not notice the tension in the air around the house. Both from the usual suspects who after bringing me back had immediately separated as far away from each other as was possible, though I hadn't noticed straight away because I was more interested in finding something to eat. Sure it had been strange that she had been carrying and using his weapons but I was beginning to think this was a lot more than let your spouse borrow your stuff day. And another unusual pair who I was still trying to work out what the issue was.

For some reason the usually inseparable duo of Thalia and Reyna seemed to be trying their hardest to avoid one another. If one would enter the room the other was in either she or the other would then find some excuse to leave just as quickly.

Subtle investigation by myself to our fellow hunters revealed little to nothing other than they had been like it since the afternoon before.

'Why is it every time I turn my back around here everything goes to hell?' I whispered to myself, sure I was gone three years the first time but a day? Despite my curiosity I was no longer Lieutenant which meant it was not my place to get involved in the others affairs.

Besides I was pretty sure the two immortals were of far more pressing and volatile importance.

(Reyna)

'Clean armor, clean mind.' I whispered to myself something I had used to say before going in to battle. It had meant I was ready for what was to come. If my gear was ready and I stayed calm I knew I was gonna get through the battle fine. I guess it was a sign of the fact I stopped caring about my life when I left the legion and keeping it in top condition became a low priority to me. After all I had nothing worth living for, sure it was selfish of me especially to Hylla but at the time I had not cared.

However even as I cleaned and polished the Imperial Gold set for third time in as many hours I could not fulfil the second part of the chant. Though my body acted on autopilot and subconsciously cleaned the set down to the minutes' detailing my thoughts were elsewhere.

On a certain black haired daughter of Zeus.

'Stupid twins, stupid mistletoe, stupid kiss.' I cursed quietly. Yet all that did was make me think back to the occasion and that was the problem. Despite the shock and the taboo nature of it, I had liked it and the more I tried to deny it the more I knew I was lying to myself.

A few years ago I used to dream of having my first kiss with a certain oblivious blond boy only for it all to go up in smoke thanks to Hera and that Venus spawn. Now here I was arguing with myself over the same interaction with the same boy's estranged sister, who was different in just about every way. Yet the same in all the good ways.

Regardless we were both hunters we had sworn off having relationships even in the event she felt the same way it would be impossible right?

A few days ago I would have taken that as law, but things had becoming relatively anarchic lately inside the hunt. With everyone generally doing as they pleased unless commanded to do something by the goddess. But their lay another major issue, the goddess herself was now in a major relationship with our own guardian. Who to top it all off was the only other guy I had actually ever liked in that way before being shut down by finding out he was already in a relationship.

Did the Fates seriously have something against everyone around here or what? Could we not just have a period of some normalcy before shit hit the fan again and again?

Instead myself, Thalia, Zoe and the two immortals were in a constant cycle of conflict and calamities seemingly without end. Which any of us would be lucky if we managed to remain sane from, the change in the goddess's personality was proof of that already.

Then again you could not spend more than a short amount of time around Percy Jackson without your life being turned on its head, let alone dating the guy secretly for months.

But that was getting off the subject of my own problems. Namely the spiky raven haired lightning tossing borderline sadistic foul mouthed extremely volatile girl I had somehow developed an unlikely friendship/attraction to.

Could this week get any worse?

(Thalia)

'Why was this bothering me so much?' I thought as I slashed both the arms off the practice dummy I had brought into the back yard before sheathing the silver blade and thrusting a spear through its stupid head, causing it to fall backwards before the point caught on the floor and held it at an angle.

After all it had just been an accident caused by a stupid prank by a pair of stupid idiots.

Yes I had intended the whole friendly kiss on the cheek to placate the stupid love twins. But I had not intended for the other girl to turn around as I was doing it and accidentally make out with her. Much to their squealing delight before I hurriedly went off to destroy the culprit as quick as possible.

Unfortunately that small act had done little to ease the now unmistakeable tension that now existed between us causing me to actively avoid Reyna where possible so I did not have to discuss it.

Thankfully after some 'friendly' persuasion I had managed my baby brother to provide me with food yesterday amongst other things including the new enchantment on my sword turning it into an improvised cattle prod similar to Clarisse's seemingly infinite supply of spears. Though as of yet I was lacking an opportunity to test it on my real favourite test dummy, who judging by the pissed off expression on his face when he came back was not in a good mood.

Of course spending Christmas with Jason meant spending it with...her. Which was uncomfortable for several reasons: One she is dating my little brother, two her mother is Aphrodite which is enough considering everything that bitch has done lately and three my best friend hates her with a passion for reason number one.

And I had to remain mutual to the pair of them. Or at least try and make it look like I was, the truth was the other girl annoyed the hell out of me every bit as much as her mother. That and I knew what happened at the solstice and they didn't made me want to announce how much shit her mother was in every time she opened her mouth to talk about their 'perfect' relationship.

You're together because my step-mother is a conniving bitch. Nothing more nothing less.

There was no such thing as a perfect relationship, no two people matched up that well.

Take example A) Percy and Annabeth. He is an idiot she is a genius and therefore they compliment each other. In a fight she was the brains and he was the brawn (when he understood the plan) ok so far. She had enough hubris to think she could fix the entire world to her way of thinking, His ambition merely ran to surviving the current world. Which I think would have resulted in friction somewhere along the line had things remained as they were. Now I don't like to think ill of the dead but I would have given it a few years before she put something ahead of their relationship.

Example B) Percy and Artemis. He is still an idiot but maturity has kicked in enough that he now knows when to be serious and when to be his usual sarcastic wise cracking self. She is a self-centric relationship oblivious goddess who thought all guys were personified by her brother and our father before discovering one who broke that mould. Now as far their relationship is going he needs someone who can thoroughly kick his ass when he is too much of an idiot and even then that is only because he lets her. While any guy who wanted to date her would have to earn the approval of the hunt and our father which basically narrowed it down to any guy who was kind hearted and selfless enough for the former and powerful enough to survive the latter.

Having a badass kitty around was just a bonus.

The thing was you could easily tell that there was trouble in paradise between the two occasionally more so than her usual pregnant mood swings and his being personified in Perseus who it was clear both the goddesses hated and honestly from what I had seen I couldn't blame them. He was essentially what the hunt envisioned someone with Percy's power would be like, with an extra dose of idiot thrown in. Yet the thing was even with the two's (four?) personality clashes I could still see the two lasting. Even without their upcoming children as a bond between them, Percy's loyal nature would refuse to allow him to leave her or be led astray while she had taken three thousand years to take an interest in any man, besides she would likely kill him if he did so much as think about it.

But this was all academic, I was getting off the major issue which was the whole situation between me and Reyna. Even in the hypothetical situation that we decided to do something about this 'relationship' if that was what to call it. Sure relationships between hunters were not without precedent however they generally ended one of a few ways depending on Artemis's mood at the time she found out. The offending couple could voluntarily leave the hunt after admitting to the goddess or be caught out and thrown out unceremoniously or if she was in a really bad mood or just never really liked them she could kill them. Though how her own change in relationship status affected her possible leniency was hard to tell. True she had offered to allow us to leave if we should so choose to but the truth was I didn't want to.

'Why does my life suck so much?' I cursed quietly before noticing the distant rumble of thunder that I was unintentionally causing in my bad mood. Great now everyone had a indicator that something was getting to me which was the last thing I needed. Besides I needed some fresh air and to try and clear my head.

(Percy)

'Aren't you going to go beg for forgiveness?'

'For what I did nothing wrong! Believe it or not I do like to spend some time alone occasionally and having them glaring at me because of your actions is not how I want to spend the night. So how about you shut up for a few hours.' I chastised angrily, annoyed that the goddess had gone to the chariot without me because of what my idiot counterpart had done.

'How was I supposed to know she wouldn't find it funny?'

'Oh sure an arrogant ass with super weapon grade swords versus scantily glad goddesses armed with pillows who you annoyed in the first place. I would hate to think what you are capable of if someone actually let you do what you wanted. How is it in the space of four days you have managed to try your hardest at ruining my relationship. Jeez this time last week all I had to worry about was how to tell everyone now I have to worry about you going insane and killing everyone for the lulz.'

'You hurt me with your accusations, I wouldn't kill everyone, I would leave a few survivors to spread the terror.'

'You are so not helping your case.' I replied face palming.

'What is the point of trying to defend myself? Everyone hates me as much as I hate all of them, so I might as well embrace it.' He replied as if that was an acceptable answer.

'Like hell am I making a pariah out of myself for you, Why can't you just stop being a jackass and learn to tolerate others at the very least?'

'For the same reason you cannot stop trying to throw your life away for every person you meet. It is part of who I am and I cannot change that, if you don't like it give Clotho and her sisters a call and complain to them.' He replied dryly as if this was simply all the fates fault, which while I could blame them for a few...dozen things that were messed up over the course of my life. I was pretty sure an insane aspect sharing my body was not in the original plan. The simple fact was I could tell there was something wrong with him in the way he acted when left to his own devices.

He was all too random to be following any grand scheme of fate or at least he was not doing it properly at least. Like someone else was messing with what he was doing at any given point and sending different instructions. Sure he was irrational and blunt about what he wanted to do but that had a basis in myself that I could recognise. His love of carnage and suffering was what confused me, sure I was no stranger to both giving and receiving either but he took it to an all new level and did it purely because he could.

Sure I was not an expert on the differences between aspects being that I only spent time around Artemis and Diana and had limited experiences with Athena/Anna Minerva, Dionysius/Bacchus, Ares/Mars and a few others. But the general observation was they were not to different in the core aspects of who they were. Sure Mars was more stern and respectful and Bacchus was less of a spoiled idiot drunk but they still mirrored their counterpart's general attitudes in a roundabout kind of way. Perseus knew what I thought and went out of his way to either throw a spanner in the works or out righted rejected it according to whim.

'I know you are trying to work out what is wrong with me.' He said quietly snapping me out of my thoughts in surprise.

'I am surprised you haven't managed to work it out already, after all you were there, and you suffered it too.' He added bitterly.

'I don't understand.' I replied honestly I had no idea what he was rambling on about.

'Surprise surprise should have seen that coming. Tell me this, what would you say if I was to tell you I had been lingering in your subconscious silently for quite a while before the solstice, a few weeks in fact?'

'I would call bullshit, you can't keep quiet for more than a few minutes before begging for attention.'

'... True but what if I was not always this way, what if something caused me to become this way?'

'I would question how in the hell that was possible.'

'It is just as possible as the reason I have a natural hatred and fear for dear old Artie. After all the source of both is the same, now tell me this who or what have you encountered in the last few weeks that could affect someone's very actions and psyche. Give you a hint...Marina.'

'...Oh fuck.' I whispered aloud as the answer hit me like a ton of bricks.

'Correct answer.' He commented almost solemnly and for quite possibly the first time I actually felt sorry for the erstwhile megalomaniacal aspect as a lot of his actions began to make sense.

I had brushed that situation under the carpet and tried to forget about it but I had been an idiot. Something like that does not leave without a few scars, the only problem was I was not the one carrying them. Perseus was, no wonder he was so fucked up in the head.

Who knows what damage the Eidolons had done to him?

(Thalia)

As I finished climbing the ladder and pushed the trapdoor back closed to stop the loss of heat in the building I couldn't help but look into the sky. Believe it or not I do still get nostalgic occasionally when I consider that my father rules everything up there and that I too share that power to a degree. Sure it was dark and cloudy at the moment so nothing but a few isolated stars were visible which I suppose were technically Percy's responsibility and Artemis the hidden moon but the rest was all my old man.

Yet for all my life I had feared it because of my phobia of heights and in doing so limiting myself to simple jolts of electricity here and there. Now I could look back and wish I could tell myself to stop being an CUNT when I was a kid and I could have likely avoided the whole tree incident.

At the moment though I wished someone would tell me what to do with my life at the moment.

However as I stood there gazing at the inky darkness above I could help but notice something out the corner of my eye before slowly turning towards the hunched figure leaning against the low wall surrounding the terrace head held between both hands. Normally I would have questioned what Seaweed brain was doing here as I expected him to be with Artemis now that we all knew the truth. But the thing that caught my attention more was the haunted expression on his face that was a far cry from his usual goofy grin or the confident smile he showed in battle.

This was the sort of expression he had when he returned from the Giant war after losing Annabeth and finding out what happened to the hunt like someone had taken his usual personality and nuked it out of existence.

'Seaweed Brain?' I called to him quietly causing him to jerk in surprise and look around which was a surprise to me because normally he knew whenever anyone was near, the fact I had actually got the jump on him was not a good sign.

'Are you ok?'

'No.' He replied almost robotically completely devoid of emotion.

'Do you want to talk about it?'

'No.'

'Is this something to do with Artemis?' I asked sensitively.

'No and Thalia for once please let this go; I don't even understand this myself.' He deplored looking up at me and I could see the pain in his eyes. Something was seriously messing with my cousin's thoughts in such a way that my own issues were clearly nowhere near as major a problem.

'What has Perseus done?' I asked getting to the only other clear problem I could think of which guessing by the small judder in his body was right on the mark.

'Thalia this is something you do not want to get involved in, you will only end up hurt. Believe me I know and I live it twenty-four seven.' He replied and I was almost startled by the change in eye colour he exhibited as he spoke. Perseus himself was warning me to keep out and without threats. Normally this would be a call for celebration but now it was annoyingly perplexing.

'Will you both stop moping about like it is the end of the world!'

'If you want I can always cause it, would solve all my problems.'

'Thalia please do not get yourself involved in this I... We need to sort this out alone.'

'You two are so damned infuriating I get it you got issues well guess what you are not the only one... I kissed Reyna.' I admitted before wishing I could find a very dark corner to crawl up into and die.

'Go on.'

'No not until you tell me what in uncle's name is the problem.'

'IamstillaffectedbytheeidolonsandthatiswhyIwantokillArtemis. Now details did you use tongue?'

'Wait what? Nooooo.'

'This story sucks you had my hopes up there for a second.' Perseus commented dejectedly returning to his normal annoying self for a second before going back to brooding.

'You want to kill Artemis?' I asked deciphering the last part of what he said.

'No.'

'Yes... sort of...maybe...I don't know.'

'No we don't. You remember when Artemis go possessed and went nuts right?'

'Err yeah she almost vaporised me, kind of hard to forget.'

'And in stopping her I inadvertently became the Eidolons new host and tried to do the same to her in kind. Point is she stopped me and we thought it was all over and done with. Turns out they sort of left a present on the way out they kinda how to put it...'

'Mind rape seems appropriate.'

'Yeah that just about sums it up. Perseus got screwed up a little all of their hate got projected onto him and their biggest source of hate is Artemis. You get the picture yet.'

'So the woman you are marrying is also your biggest source of anger? That can't be good for your relationship.' I summarised.

'Makes things a little uncomfortable to say the least. Imagine every time you are near her you have this little voice in the back of your head telling you to cause her to suffer or to kill her. That is what I have, makes me a little cranky.'

'Now I would never leave her obviously which causes a quandary of what should I do. From what I know Perseus opinion on the matter could eventually begin to affect me, much like Diana's opinion of me softened Artemis to the prospect of our relationship. Which would be bad.'

'Good news is I am not bothered about Diana though because she never did anything to the Eidolons. And to top it all of I do actually have feelings for them both causing me to be conflicted in what I want to do.'

'Which is the only bonus in this situation as he has already tried to kill Artemis this morning. The only reason she isn't gone is that I have control of our weapons.'

'So there you have it, any hints?'

'I wouldn't even know where to begin unravelling that mess.'

'Join the club, anyway less about me more about you. Got any pictures because this sounds too good to be true?' Perseus asked suddenly becoming excited as if imagining the situation.

'It was an accident I swear but...' I said before going quiet as I felt my face heating up.

'I kissed a girl and I liked it, taste of her cherry chap stick.'

'Did you seriously just sing Katy Perry? That is adorable.' I said mockingly causing him to humph indignantly.

'I am sorry we were discussing your lesbian fantasies not my issues right now.' He defended smugly causing me to unwittingly blush at the blunt way he put it.

'I am sorry I have seen you as a girl so that applies to you to.' I countered weakly.

'True but the look on Diana's face makes it oh so worth it.' Percy commented taking control with a devilish grin at the thought.

'I really don't want to imagine you and my sister thanks Seaweed Brain.'

'I am having quite the opposite problem with you and Reyna I need more details to work with, explain the situation a bit more.'

'There was mistletoe and the twins made me do it but she turned at the last moment and well yeah.'

'Adorable little Thalia is finally becoming a woman. So let me guess you are now feeling confused about what to do as you wonder if you are freak and if others find out you will be mocked relentlessly. Don't worry about that because I will no matter what. Which leaves you with the problem of what does she think about you and the only way to work that out is simple.'

'You need to speak to here. Beating yourself up isn't going to get you anywhere. And don't worry about this idiot or other what others think. I was not exactly smart for beginning a relationship with Artemis and you have nowhere near as many obstacles as we had. And if this what you want I will deal with Artemis so she does not over react. She is not exactly in a position to be lauding it over you.'

'Are you sure you have not got a love domain hidden amongst all the others?' I asked smiling as he paled.

'I better fucking not have!' Perseus snapped like the thought horrified him. Then again after what Aphrodite had put them through I could see where he was coming from.

'Calm down I was joking. But you are right I know we need to talk but you need to practise what you preach and do the same Seaweed Brain.'

'I don't get a choice and this time, she is the one pointing the weapons towards me. My only source of luck is the fact she won't kill her favorite dumbass. But remember if you do hook up with my favorite Praetor... I want pictures... bye.' He said grinning like an idiot as he melted into shadows on the floor as I resisted the temptation to experimentally give the lingering shadows a shock to see if it still affected him before they too disappeared.

'So he can do pleasant conversation when he wants to, well sort of.' I said to myself with a shrug turning towards the slowly emerging moon and wishing the two good luck in patching things up.

But me, I had somethings that I needed to do as well as I turned away and began to walk towards the trapdoor back down.

(Percy)

'So before we go back to the ball and chain. That whole thing between Thalia and Reyna is kinda...' Perseus explained as we reappeared in the middle of what seemed to be a empty salt flat with nothing but desolate ground for miles around.

'Unexpected?' I answered simply still trying to get my head around that situation.

'I was gonna say hot but unexpected applies I suppose.'

'You are such a pig sometimes.'

'Hey I might have been altered a little but I still came from you and admit it you are interested so don't go giving it the high and mighty speak.'

'Yeah but Thalia is my cousin and that makes it kind of wierd to think about.' I told him resisting the urge to think further on the issue. of course this also left me open for the immediate and obvious comeback.

'Forgive me if i am wrong but didn't you already fuck her sister... who is also your cousin.'

'Yeah but that is different. Technically it isn't before you make any comment on hypocrisy but what I mean is Thalia acts like a typical annoying almost childish relative while Artemis and Diana initially acted distant to us so much you would think we were not related at all. Besides Thalia still looks practically like a fifteen year old even if she is much older than that, same thing for Reyna I suppose but she looks a bit older at least.'

'So are you saying you would not watch them make out, even out of curiosity?'

'Well...Yeah i would.' I admitted quietly only for him to begin to laugh.

'You know what sucks though I miss having dreams, well technically you had them.'

'I don't they were normally filled with people trying to kill me or threatening to do so.'

'Those were good times and besides think of the sexual fantasies you are missing out on.'

'I would hate to think what you would dream about. You have enough issues in real life let alone what you would get up to in your sub-conscious.'

'Snuff films probably.' He answered uncomfortably as if combining his fantasies of violence and sex.

'Can we go now before this gets any more uncomfortable?'

'Yeah, though I can't believe this will be any less awkward. I will leave the first bit to you, less chance of being stabbed that way.' He explained before releasing control of our body as I put on my best 'please don't hurt me for doing something stupid smile' and disappeared out of that empty desert.

And reappeared directly opposite the sitting figures of the two goddesses who were both glaring at me with arms folded as if to signal that they were waiting for me to eventually turn up. Though Diana at least gave me a small smile, which was completely absent on her counterpart's face.

'We need to talk.'

'About which bit the fact the annoyance tried to kill me or any of the other ways he has managed to ruin everything?' Artemis snapped back angrily.

'You can always try and refer to me by my name and not as 'The Annoyance'.' Perseus snapped back seizing control briefly.

'By talk I mean we explain, you listen and I answer questions at the end' I defended quickly. Thankfully I was not the only one trying to resolve this situation peacefully as Artemis found herself restrained by the appearance of a sheet of Adamantium appearing in front of her courtesy of Diana.

'You calm down for two seconds, you start explaining.' Diana said turning from Artemis to me and I took the prompt while I had the opportunity. I really did not want to find out how good my shield was at stopping Maelstrom. As good as it was there was simply no Paradox between the two. Maelstrom was the epitome of the whole unstoppable force cliché, if it was anything like Krios's armour was in terms of durability Hunter's Moon would be little more than a speed bump on the way to goring me.

(Thalia)

I couldn't help but pause as I reached the room I shared with 'her' and be tempted to turn right around again and walk back down the hallway.

No. If even Perseus of all people could finally admit something to others then I could not run away from my own problems. Jeez one day so far had been bad enough and besides we shared the same room. So we would have to talk to each other eventually. Walking away was just delaying the inevitable I realised before quietly knocking on the door before hearing a resultant heavy crash inside causing my curiosity to overwhelm patience as I slowly peered inside and surveyed the scene of devastation.

From first observations it was pretty clear that Reyna had been cleaning her armor again and my interruption had startled her causing her to accidentally knock the whole armored mannequin over. which had resulted in the whole set of Lorica Segmenta coming apart all over the floor as the only thing remaining intact being the bronze breastplate which she was trying to prop off herself as she slowly stood up before looking at me as I decided to lift the heavy mannequin off her.

'Sorry for startling you.' I mumbled nervously as I felt as if my mouth suddenly became devoid of all moisture.

'No it was my fault, I should not have been pushing it so hard while polishing it.'

'How many times did you polish it?' I asked incredulously looking at the gleaming breast plate that was beginning to rival the Sun chariot.

'A few.'

'I can tell, any particular reason why you had to do it so many times?'

'As a distraction... We need to talk.' She added reluctantly looking at me with her dark eyes.

'Yeah... We do.' I answered hesitantly.

'About yesterday I...' She began before hesitating and her face turning red as she attempted to look away as if wanting to kick herself.

'Reyna look at me.' I told her before doing something so completely stupid and Seaweed Brain like I had no idea where the idea came from.

I kissed her.

(Artemis)

'That is your excuse to explain everything that you have done?' I asked still annoyed at the idiots explanation. There was no way what he had said was possible.

'Oh sure because you are such an expert on being possessed, remind me again where the Eidolons have been chilling out for the last few millennia. Oh yeah, that is right they were technically inside your head or your bow at least. So how about you get the fuck off your high horse and cut me some slack. After all it was you who lost control of them and we had to stop your rampage and I got affected as a result.' Perseus argued in annoyance folding the Titan's arms as he leaned against the chariots edge.

'I am not arguing that I am arguing the convenience of the excuse. At no point have you ever mentioned this before and now suddenly it is your answer to everything. Like some sort of proverbial get out jail free card.' I countered, willingly admitting my mistake in that episode.

'Yeah because at what point have I ever had a chance let alone a will to talk about my issues. Normally every time we get a chance to talk I am unable to because you have your lips locked against his. In which event I am told to shut the hell up.' He commented sarcastically only increasing my annoyance.

'Even so, I have to agree, it is convenient.' Diana agreed in embarrassment.

'He has a point though, we have never exactly given him a chance to explain anything. And I am more guilty of that than anyone and he is literally in my head. The moment he ever said anything we would tell him to shut up or act condescending towards him. Besides how often do either of you admit to your faults. The last time Leto called you out on something you did you stormed off out and I had to search for you.'

'That is a different thing entirely.' I defended in annoyance at his defending the other idiot.

'I fail to see the difference besides I have only ever talked about or threatened to kill people. Do you even know how many people you have killed?... Didn't think so. So how about you cut me slack. Yes I attacked you but that was simply my natural reaction to you beating me to a pulp. I just took it a little too far.'

'You took it a little too far?' I said flabbergasted by his complete understatement.

'I don't know why I bother.' He said in annoyance throwing his arms up in the air and turning around away y from us.

'You can always just try and apologise.' Diana suggested and even I had to look at her like an idiot.

'And what exactly will that accomplish?'

'Are you just trying to make this last forever or what? What exactly are you trying to get out of this constant arguing because at the moment you are doing nothing but drive a wedge between all of us. He could have said nothing at all and you would have complained about him keeping quiet. In any event I know where this would have eventually gone, you would come straight back to Percy despite the consequences. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer after all. In this case it is just really convenient tha they just happen to be the same guy. So just let it go for everyone's sake.' Diana argued looking at me the whole time as I watched Perseus turn and look back at us.

'I apologise for trying to kill you, despite the massive urge I have to inflict as much pain on you as your presence causes me.'

'Seriously?' I asked shaking my head.

'Just accept the damned apology, and you stop being so damned blunt.' Diana said in annoyance to both of us.

'I don't do subtle, besides this is why you are my favourite, you actually listen occasionally.'

'I would listen, if every other sentence out of your mouth wasn't full of crap. But as I seem to have no choice, I accept your apology.'

'See wasn't so hard was it?'

'Bite me.'

'I can get Nemea to do it if you want?'

'Perseus shut up, and I want to apologise to the both of you as well and ask a favour. I want you to keep a hold of my weapons until I feel it is secure for me to take them back.' Percy said taking control and offering the token of goodwill for everyone's safety.

'Oh don't worry about that someone is definitely on probation for the foreseeable future. Now hurry up and sit down and be my body pillow.' I commanded bluntly pointing at the space between me and my counterpart.

'Do I have any choice?'

'NO' We both replied in unison as Diana leaned forward and grabbed his arm and began t drag him forward before he came willingly and settled between us.

'So do you want a make up kiss like in the movies?'

'No and shut up you pain in th...Perseus just go to sleep, tomorrow could be a interesting day after all. We are getting to visit the Senate after all.' I corrected reluctantly. Baby steps after all.

'Two strikes down one to go...This is going to be so much fun.' He said excitedly as he considered the prospect before his eyes lost most of the lustre.

'Goodnight girls.' Percy said simply with a smile before planting a gentle kiss on my forehead causing me to relax. He wasn't off the hook by any stretch of the imagination but it was progress at least. It was a shame the best thing we had towards a professional psychiatrist on Olympus was my brother, besides Percy let alone Perseus preferred to vent his stress out in a much more destructive manner than talking it over.

Oh well maybe he would begin to calm down from now on.

(Thalia)

The only thing running through my mind as I kissed the Rogue Praetor turned Huntress was what the hell I am doing. I seriously had no idea why or what I was doing. The first time had been an accident and I could brush it off as such at a stretch. But now I was thoroughly up a creek without a paddle. And yet I didn't pull myself back for some reason despite the fact every bone in my body was screaming at me to do just that.

The reason my resistance was the simple fact Reyna likewise hadn't move since the moment our lips touched. With the exception of the startled look on her eyes which slowly returned to normal. Of course was nothing like you see in a movie or what I had the displeasure of seeing upon catching Percy and Artemis/Diana in one of their make sessions, despite their statements to the contrary. Instead it was nothing put a prolonged simple peck on the lips where we were both now locked waiting for the other to respond.

'Are you alright in there I heard a crash?' A voice asked through the door startling us both as we pushed away from each other. Just in time before Jacqueline's head to emerged around the frame and looked around the room curiously.

'Are you Ok?' She asked looking at the fallen pieces of armour all over the floor.

'Err... Yeah perfectly I just err... Knocked it over by accident... No need to panic.' Reyna said sounding like she was doing the complete opposite of just that.

'Oh ok good luck putting it all back together again.' She said with a small smile before closing the door as I took my first breath since she opened it as I looked back at Reyna who was likewise staring at me.

'I am sorry...' I said apologetically turning to leave only for her to grab my arm and hold me back.

'For what exactly? I have been beating myself up all day and trying to get yesterday out of my head. And that was the first time in twenty four hours where I knew exactly what I wanted. So thank you.'

'Wait... You actually aren't going to call me a freak?' I asked in complete confusion as she smiled. Which was scary enough, she never smiled. Frowned yes, indifference yes, determined yes, Happy... somewhere something small and cuddly was dying. Which was fine by me.

'Why I have spent all day trying to talk myself out of doing what you just did.'

'But were both girls and Hunters to boot. We shouldn't be...'

'Thalia in case you haven't noticed the whole relationship rule has become a little relaxed as of late. Besides Diana is goddess of Maidens and Virginity not zero love life's what-so-ever in which case she has no basis to punish either of us. Besides who is going to tell her?'

'Technically... Seaweed Brain knows about my feeling for you.'

'As much of an idiot as he can be he did manage to hide his own relationship for months and as you said he only knows about your feelings and not mine. How did he take it?' She explained before asking curiously.

'He was fine with it, as for Perseus, in his words... he wants' pictures.' I admitted causing her to chuckle.

'Of course he would in his pathetic little male mind.' Reyna commented becoming the stereotypical Hunter she was certainly not for a brief moment.

'I don't know he still want Diana only, anything else is pure curiosity.'

'What about Artemis?' She asked confused at why I specified only one aspect.

'That's well complicated, he loves her but wants to kill her at the same time. I will explain later.'

'Sounds like a normal relationship to me or at least TV's image of one. But what about us if there is a us?' She asked hesitantly.

'Hell if I know. I mean yes to us, but keep it slow and quiet so no one finds out.' I said stuttering the words out.

'Sounds fine but on one condition we try that again without both of us acting like a stiff board.' She said with a smile moving a foot closer to me.

'Dinner's ready.' Atlanta said opening the door without warning before walking off leaving it open.

'On one condition: We need to find a way to lock that door.' I agreed thanking every god, goddess and other immortal that we hadn't been caught by the daughter of Apollo. There was no way I was letting this get discovered quicker than Seaweed Brain was caught out.

'Yeah that would be awkward to explain to anyone who caught us.'

'Good because I want to see where this goes, now come on.' I said holding my hand out to her and leading her towards the door before reluctantly letting go. Behind closed doors we could act how we wanted but for now in public it was business as usual.

'I can't believe I am thinking this but thank you Seaweed Brains.' I thought with a smile as I walked down the hall with the other girl at my side.

AN. This chapter was brutal to write which contributed to it's massive delay as I kept getting stuck when writing it before getting distracted by other things (Hello Dragonage Inquisition, Fallout New Vegas Mods, Neon Genesis Evangelion). So much so that I wrote chapter 88 first (I will release that on Sunday) so no long delays this time.

Thank you for your continued support and worry and I can only apologise again for the weight. I know how much it sucks to be kept waiting for a Fanfic to be update.

Hope you all enjoy the chapter, I did not plan for it to be pure dialogue but it stretched out much further than I anticipated and we have finally got to the root of why Perseus is semi-insane. If you don't like it then I am sorry but something had to screw up his brain for him to be the crazy badass he is.

Thalia x Reyna won by a landslide, which while expected. Made this significantly harder to write as I then had to do multiple trains of thought running through their heads in different scenario's. I am a guy I truthfully have no idea what they would be thinking in this situation I can only hope I am doing it some justice.

As for dear old Steven. Warning Chapter 88 may contain blood ;-)

Please don't hesistate to leave your comments in the reviews and messages.